Apollo Nida, the husband of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. News of the sentencing was announced Tuesday and will be Nida’s second time in prison. According to federal prosecutors, Nida was also ordered to pay restitution to victims of a $2.3 million scheme during his sentencing.

During the last four seasons of the Bravo TV reality hit show, fans have gotten to know Nida through his relationship with Parks and their two children. The couple has had a rocky onscreen relationship, especially with Nida’s flirtatious relationship with co-star Kenya Moore. The 35-year-old Nida was recently seen as a groomsman for Todd Tucker on the series finale of “RHOA: Kandi’s Wedding” and has also touched on his legal issues during the reunion special.

Parks has stated publicly that she will stand by her husband’s side, but how will she deal with her husband’s second long-term prison stint? Nida was in jail for six years between 2003 and 2009 for car theft charges, which has been discussed on the show. This time Nida has pleaded guilty to a four-year scheme involving bank, mail and wire fraud and also ID theft of more than 50 people, which will result in 96 months in prison. Nida accepted the sentence, telling reporters that “the government did what they had to do” as he exited court.

Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, called the sentencing an “eye opener.” He said, “Today’s sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status.” Nida is the third star of the franchise to be involved in fraud. “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice has also pleaded guilty to a number of fraud charges.

Phaedra Parks has always presented herself as a strong, independent woman and has established herself as self-sufficient. It will be interesting to see whether or not this plays out on the next season of the show if Parks is brought back for another season.

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Tarringo T. Vaughan has taken many African-American studies courses and has obtained a Bachelors Degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a concentration in England and Communications. In his communication and African-American study courses, Tarringo became interested in how African-Americans are portrayed on television, in movies and in other facets of media.